TEXAS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Contact:OfficeofRep.EricJohnson5124630586//OfficeofRep.MarshaFarney5124630309

JohnsonFarneyPreKindergartenQualityReformFramework

Thisframeworkisintendedasabasisfordiscussionanddebatetomoveforwardonqualityreformsfor
Texas prekindergarten. Based on Gov. Abbott's campaign proposal, it offers incentive payments to
districts to adopt researchdriven standards on curriculum, teacher coaching, classroom ratios, and
schooldaylengthaswellastransparencyandaccountabilityreforms.

1. Funding
1.1. Onlyforthecurrentlyeligiblepopulation
1.2. Anoptinsystemforschooldistricts;currentprekfundingremainsuntouched
1.3. Onlyfulldayprekiseligibleforincentivepayments
1.4. Incentivepaymentsthroughthefundingformulanotagrantprogramforquality,fullday
prekbringperstudentfundinguptothestandardfulldayallotment:$3,650
1.5. IncreasedfundingforTEAtoprovideoversightoverqualityprekprogram
2. Curriculumandclassroomstandards
2.1. ExistingTexasPrekindergartenGuidelinesaremadenonoptionalforparticipatingproviders
2.2. ProvidersmustuseacurriculumapprovedbyTEAthatmeetsTexasPrekindergartenGuidelines
2.3. Maximumclassroomsizeandstafftostudentratios
3. Parentalinvolvement
3.1. Providersmustdevelopparentalengagementplan
3.2. Providersmustassessparentalinvolvementandshowprogressonengagementplan
4. Teachercertificationandtrainingstandards
4.1. Oneteacherperclassmustmeetcurrentcertificationanddegreestandards
4.2. TeacheraidesmusthaveChildDevelopmentAssociatecertificateorhaveclassroomexperience
andbeworkingtowardsone
4.3. Mandatedcontinuouscyclesofcoachingandclinicalpracticeforteachersandaides
5. Assessment,transparencyandreporting
5.1. Nohighstakesorstandardizedtestassessmentsforprekstudents.However,existing
KindergartenReadyassessmentsduringthekindergartenyearandinterviewbasedskill
assessmentsduringtheprekyearwillhelpteachersanddistrictstailorinstructionandprovide
generalearlyprogramresultsdata.
5.2. Officialprogramperformancemeasuredbyexisting3rdand4thgradestandardizedtestingof
prekparticipatingstudents
5.3. Assessmentsofclassroomandinstruction,notchildren
5.4. RequiredreportingofinformationtoTEA,parentsandthepublic
6. Accountability
6.1. TEAmustpreapproveplansfromdistrictsbeforetheyareeligibleforfunding
6.2. Districtsmustshowprogressorcontinuehighachievementon3rdand4thgradeassessments
6.3. TEAcanmandateprogramchangesfordistrictsthatfailtoperform
7. Aroleforprivateproviders
7.1. Districtsmaycontractwithprivateproviderstoprovideclassroomsusingincentivepayments
7.2. Privateprovidersmustbenationallycertified
7.3. TEAisresponsibleformonitoringprivateprovidersforcompliancewithprogramterms

1.1

1.2

1.3

1.4

1. Funding

Onlyforthecurrentlyeligiblepopulation

Texascurrentlyoffershalfdayfundingtoschooldistrictstoofferprekindergartentostudentswhoare
atleast3yearsoldandare:
unabletospeakandcomprehendtheEnglishlanguage;
educationallydisadvantaged(qualifiedforfreeorreducedlunch),
homeless;
thechildofanactivedutymemberofthearmedforces;
thechildofamemberofthearmedforcesinjuredorkilledwhileonactiveduty;or
haseverbeeninfostercare.

Districtscurrentlymayofferprektoeligible3yearoldsandreceivestatefunding.Districtscurrently
mustofferhalfdayprektoeligible4yearolds.Therewere217,565studentsenrolledinFoundation
SchoolProgramfundedprekinthe20122013schoolyear.

Manystakeholdersstronglysupportsonlyofferingstatefundingforprektothecurrentlyeligible
populationbecausethesechildrenareunlikelytootherwisebeenrolledinprek.Puttingtheminquality
prekisaneducationalinvestmentforeducationaloutcomes,asopposedtoasubsidyforfamilieswhose
childrenwouldlikelyotherwiseenrollinprekanyway.

Thereisalsoonlyconsensussupportforstartingprekqualityreformswith4yearolds,leavingexisting
provisionsfor3yearoldsuntouched.Thisproposalalsodoesnotaffectthecurrentpracticeofmany
districtsofofferingtuitionbasedprekfornonFSPeligiblestudents.

Anoptinsystemforschooldistricts;currentprekfundingremainsuntouched

Newfundingwillbeanincentivepaymentforquality,fulldayprek.Existingfundingforhalfdayprek
willbeuntouched,soanydistrictreceivingincentivepaymentswillbeabletoaddthattotheirhalfday
fundingforacompletefulldayoffundingforprovidingqualityfulldayprek.

GovernorAbbottspecificallywarnedagainsttamperingwiththecurrentsystembeforetheresults

Onlyfulldayprekiseligibleforincentivepayments

Recentresearchhasconfirmedclearbenefitsofalldaygenerallydefinedassixhoursormoreprek.
Abouthalfofschooldistrictshavecobbledtogetherfundingforfulldayprek,butalackofdedicated
statefundingleavesthoseprogramsinconstantjeopardyandresultsincutstootherprograms.
Participationratesbyfamilieshavealsobeenfoundtobehigherforfulldayratherthanhalfdayprek.

Incentivepaymentsforquality,fulldayprekbringperstudentfundinguptothestandardfullday
allotment:$3,650

Rigorouslydefining"quality"prekisessentialforeffectivenessandtransparency,butcompliancecosts
andfullimplementationwillbecostly.Districtsshouldreceivethecompletestatefulldayschooling
allotmentforprovidingquality,fulldayprek:$3,650ontopofthecurrenthalfdayfundingof$3,650.
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1.5 IncreasedfundingforTEAtoprovideoversightoverqualityprekprogram

TEAhaseffectivelyonlyonestaffmemberforprekindergarten.TEAmustreceiveadditionalfundingto
overseeanexpandedprekindergartenprogram,possiblyinanewofficeand/oradvisorycouncilofearly
education.

Thisrecommendationisnotincludedinthisproposal,butcouldbehandledinAppropriationsorin
separatelegislation.

2. Curriculumandclassroomstandards

2.1 ExistingTexasPrekindergartenGuidelinesaremadenonoptionalforparticipatingproviders

ThestatehasTexasPrekindergartenGuidelinesforcurriculum,buttheyareoptional.Theseguidelines,
whichmayberevisedinthefuture,shouldberequired.

2.2 ProvidersmustuseacurriculumapprovedbyTEAthatmeetsTexasPrekindergartenGuidelines

TEAwillprecertifycurriculathatmeettheseguidelines,anddistrictsthatwanttousehomegrown
curriculaoronenotonthelistcansubmitittoTEAforapproval.Therearecurrentlyanumberof
availablecurriculathatwouldmeetthecurrentguidelines.

2.3 Maximumclassroomsizeandstafftostudentratios

Recentresearchpointstoamaximumclassroomsizeof20andastafftostudentratioof1:10as
producingthegreatesteducationaloutcomes.Eachclassroomshouldincludeatleastoneteacher,but
therestoftheratiocanbesatisfiedusingteacheraides.

However,duetothehighcapitalcostsofbuildingnewclassrooms,somedistrictsfrequentlymakedo
withclassroomsizesofashighas24or25,butmaintainastafftostudentratiooflessthan1:10.This
proposalwouldpreservethatflexibilitybycappingclassroomsizeat25butrequiringastafftostudent
ratioofnomorethan1:10.

3. ParentalInvolvement

3.1 Providersmustdevelopparentalengagementplan

DrawingonGov.Abbott'splan,thisproposalwouldrequireproviderstodevelopaparentalengagement
plan.Differentdistrictscanservedramaticallydifferentcommunities,sodistrictsshouldbefreeto
designtheirownplans.

3.2 Providersmustassessparentalinvolvementandshowprogressonengagementplan

Inordertohavegooddatatobasetheparentalengagementplansonandtogaugetheirsuccess,
districtsshoulddevelopmethodstoassessparentalinvolvementandattitudestowardseducation.
Districtsmustshowadequatelevelsofbothorsubstantialprogress.

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4.1

4.2

4.3

5.1

4. Teachercertificationandtrainingstandards

Oneteacherperclassmustmeetcurrentcertificationanddegreestandards

Therehasbeensomediscussionofcreatinganewteachercertificationforearlyeducation,eitherfor
prekthrough2ndgradeorprekthrough3rdgrade.Thisideahasseriousmeritbutisnotpartofthis
proposal.Underthisplan,eachteacherwhoheadsaclassroommusthavethecurrentlyrequiredlevels
ofteachercertificationtoteachprek.

TeacheraidesmusthaveChildDevelopmentAssociatecertificateorhaveclassroomexperienceand
beworkingtowardsone

TheChildDevelopmentAssociate'scertificateisnotmeanttobeadegreesubstituteforteachers.There
arealsomanyqualityprekteachersinTexaswhodonothavethecertificate.

Thisproposalisdesignedtogiveproviderstheflexibilitytomeetimmediatestaffingrequirementswhile
alsoworkingtowardsafullyeducatedstaff.ItrequiresstaffwhoserveasteacheraidestohaveaCDA
certificateorhaveatleastfouryearsofprekclassroomexperienceandcompletetheCDAwithinfour
years.

Mandatedcontinuouscyclesofcoachingandclinicalpracticeforteachersandaides

Researchhasdemonstratedthatcontinuouscyclesofobservation,coachingandclinicalpracticeare
highlyeffectivewaysofimprovinginstructionquality.ThisproposalasksTEAtodevelopstandardsfor
coachingbyrule,andaprofessionaldevelopmentplanwouldbepartofdistrict'sapplicationtoTEAfor
eligibilityforincentivepayments.

5.Assessment,transparencyandreporting

Nohighstakesorstandardizedtestassessmentsforprekstudents.However,existingKindergarten
Readyassessmentsduringthekindergartenyearandinterviewbasedskillassessmentsduringthe
prekyearwillhelpteachersanddistrictstailorinstructionandprovidegeneralearlyprogramresults
data.

Providersshouldassessskillsofprekstudentswhentheyentertheprogramtobetterdesigntheir
programtofitstudents'needs,butthiscanbedoneinpersonalinterviewswithstudentsinsteadof
standardizedtests.Thisdatawillalsobehelpfulinprovidingearlydataonprogrameffectiveness.

However,thelastthingaprekreformprograminTexasshoulddoisturnprekintoahighstakes
testingyear.Therewillbenotestingofprekstudentstoqualifyforadvancementtokindergarten.To
prevent"teachingtothetest,"teachercompensationshouldnotbedirectlydeterminedbyformulas
basedonstudentassessmentfiguresanddistrictfundingshouldnotbepredicatedonresults.District
accountabilitywillbedeterminedby3rdand4thgradeassessments,asdiscussedin5.2.

TEAshallpreapprovealistofassessmentsthatprovidemeaningfuldataonprogressinstudentskills,
anddistrictswillbeabletoalsosubmittheirownassessmentstoTEAforapproval.

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5.2 Officialprogramperformancemeasuredbyexisting3rdand4thgradestandardizedtestingofprek
participatingstudents

DrawingonGov.Abbott'sproposal,thebestwayofassessingtheeffectivenessofprekprogramsisto
lookatscoresonexisting3rdand4thgradeassessmentsoncecohortsofprekparticipantsreachthose
grades.Thisdovetailswithsolidconsensusthatimproving3rdgradereadinglevelsisoneofthecentral
goalsofaprekprogram.

5.3 Assessmentsofclassroomandinstruction,notchildren

Participatingprogramsshouldbeassessedintermsoftheteacherstudentinteractions,coverageof
curriculum,etc.Underthisproposal,TEAwillpreapprovealistofclassroommonitoring/assessment
tools,butdistrictswillbeabletosubmitthosenotonthelistforapprovalaswell.

5.4 RequiredreportingofinformationtoTEA,parentsandthepublic

Informationincludingstudentdemographics,classroomandstaffratios,curriculum,etc.,mustbemade
availabletoparents,teachers,administratorsandthepublicatlarge.Districtsshouldberequiredto
participateintheTexasStudentDataSystemandreportinformationsuchasstudentdemographics,
classroomsizes,staffstudentratios,instructionalhours/daysperyearandfundingsources.Alldata
mustbemadeavailabletoeveryone.

6.Accountability

6.1 TEAmustpreapproveplansfromdistrictsbeforetheyareeligibleforfunding

Alldistrictswishingtoparticipateintheincentivepaymentsprogrammustsubmitcompleteprogram
designplanstoTEAforcertificationthattheymeetstaterequirements.

6.2 Districtsmustshowprogressorcontinuehighachievementon3rdand4thgradeassessments

AsinGov.Abbott'splan,once3rdand4thgradeassessmentsfortheinitialprekcohortareperformed,
districtsmustshowsubstantialprogress(asdefinedbyTEAbyrule)orcontinuehighachievementin
ordertodemonstratethevalueaddedoftheprekprogram.

6.3 TEAcanmandateprogramchangesfordistrictsthatfailtoperform

AsinGov.Abbott'splan,districtsthatfailtoshowprogressorcontinuedhighachievementwillbe
subjecttoTEAmandatedchangestotheirprekprogram.Districtsthatdonotagreetothechangesare
freetocontinueoperatingaprekprogram,buttheywillnotbeeligibleforincentivepayments.

AnydistrictthatcomplieswithTEAsadjustmentswillcontinuetoreceivefulldayfundingsostudents
arenotpunishedunderaccountabilitymeasures.

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7.Aroleforprivateproviders

7.1 Districtsmaycontractwithprivateproviderstoprovideclassroomsusingincentivepayments

Underthisframework,onlyprivateprovidersthatcurrentlyservesignificantnumbersofeligible
students(largelyeconomicallydisadvantagedorEnglishlanguagelearners)wouldpotentiallyseeany
increasedcompetitionfromdistrictbasedprogramsforstudents.

However,utilizingprivateproviderscouldcrucialfordistrictstobeabletoquicklyexpandcapacitywhen
rampinguptheirprekprograms.Somedistrictsmayalsoseektodrawonprivateprovidersexpertise,
facilitiesorpersonnelbysharinganyorallofthoseundercustomizedagreements.Thisproposalgives
localschooldistrictsthefreedomtouseincentivefundstoenterintothoseagreementstoprovideprek
classroomsthroughpartnershipswithprivateproviders.

Privateproviderswillberequiredtofulfillallstaterequirementsforincentivepayments,andusethe
sameassessmenttoolsasthepartnerdistrictinordertoprovideclearercomparisondata.

TEAshalladoptrulestoallowdistrictstouseincentivepaymentstocontractwithprivateproviders,but
TEAwillberesponsibleformakingsureprivateproviderscomplywithstaterequirementsforquality
prekincentivepayments.Districtswillonlyberesponsibleforensuringcompliancewiththeparticulars
oftheirspecificagreements.

7.2 Privateprovidersmustbenationallycertified

TEAshall,byrule,adoptstandardsforprivateproviderstoparticipateinthisprogram.Thestandards
willutilizenationallyrecognizedcertificationsthatwillensurethat1)substantialnumbersofprivate
providersalreadyorcouldmeetrequirements;and2)privateproviderswillbeabletofurnish
instructionthatwillmeetstatequalityrequirementsandpreparestudentstomeetkindergarten
readinessstandardsand,later,3rdgradestandardizedtestbenchmarks.

Privateprovidersmustmeetthesesamerequirementsaspublicschoolsforprekincentivepayments,
andmaynotdiscriminateenrollmentbasedonrace,religion,sex,ethnicity,nationaloriginordisability.
PrivateprovidersmustalsohavebeeningoodstandingwiththeDepartmentofFamilyandProtective
Servicesfortwoyearspriortothedateuponwhichstudentswillbeenrolled.

7.3 TEAisresponsibleformonitoringprivateprovidersforcompliancewithprogramterms

Districtshaveexpressedconcernsaboutcostsandjurisdictionalissuesregardingoversightofprivate
providers.Districtsshouldberesponsibleformonitoringcompliancewiththetermsoftheiragreements
withprivateproviders,butTEAmustberesponsibleformonitoringprivateproviders'compliancewith
statequalityprekrequirements.

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FundingScenariosforPreKExpansioninTexas

Currentlaw

Fulldayfundingfor
prek
Assumes
maintainingcurrent
enrollmentofFSP
eligiblestudents.

Number
of
students

217,565currently
eligibleparticipating
4yearoldFSP
students

Per
student
funding

$3,650

$7,300forfullday
prek.

Total
annual
funding

Currentfunding:
$750M/yr

Additionalfunding:
$750M/yr

Abbottproposal
Assumes40%
enrollmentingold
standardprek
(87,026);

130,539in
traditionalday
prek
$3,650forday;

$3,650+$1,500=
$5,150forgold
standardprek
Additionalfunding:
$131Mprojected
($118MAbbott
projection)

$326Mmaxat100%
enrollment

Fullfundinggold
standardfullday
Assumes40%
enrollmentingold
standardprek
(87,026);

130,539in
traditionalday
prek
$3,650forday;

$3,650+$3,650=
$7,300forgold
standardprek
Additionalfunding:
$318Mprojected

$750Mmaxat100%
enrollment

Notes:
1. The40%enrollmentprojectionisbasedonLBBfiscalnotesforsimilarbillsinprevioussession.
LBBalsoprojectedthatenrollmentwouldincrease10%annuallyinsubsequentyears.
2. ThisdoesnotincludefundingforadditionalFTEsTEAmayrequiretooverseeaqualityprek
program.

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